If you are an enthusiastic gardener or landscape designer, or even just an art and history enthusiast, this is one festival not to miss. Set in one of the prettiest regions in France, Chaumont-sur-Loire, and in the grounds of a beautiful castle, this annual horticultural festival was established in 1992 and pays tribute to awesome garden designs with a different theme every year! Designed by students and artists with diverse backgrounds ranging from landscape architecture, sculpture and graphics, the designs are always original and creative, growing new artistic wonders year-on-year. This year’s theme is particularly relevant, being “Gardens of the future or the art of happy biodiversity”!
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Beethovenfest (9th September – 9th October); Bonn, Germany:

Beethovenfest has been celebrated since 1845 when a three day autumn music festival was established in Beethoven’s native city, Bonn, by the composer Franz Liszt. The former German capital hosts this popular festival, welcoming over 2,000 artists from international orchestras, soloists and young professionals. The festival runs for 4 weeks and includes 62 concerts in 24 different locations across Bonn, including concert halls, churches, parliament buildings and castles. The theme this year is “Zukunftsmusik” or “music of the future” and is also being used to highlight Liszt’s 200th birthday. So if you enjoy classically-inspired music, take a trip to Bonn – the city is alive with the music of the spheres during this month! See picture

Oktoberfest (17th September – 3rd October); Munich, Germany:

If good food and drink make for your kind of a great holiday then you are sure to have a fabulous time at the renowned Oktoberfest, one of the world’s largest festivals. This event held in Munich is an important display of Bavarian culture, having started in 1810 and attracting 6.4million visitors last year. With around 34 beer tents serving fabulous beer (all brewed within the city limits), wine and delicious German food, rides and parades for all the family to enjoy, you are sure to have a memorable trip. And do catch the Costume and Riflemen’s Parade on the first Sunday of the festival – lead by a young lady on horseback dressed as the city’s mascot! See picture

What better way to celebrate the first month of oyster season than to visit the Oyster Festival in Galway this year? Over this one weekend, the whole of the port city of Galway comes alive with seafood of all shapes, sizes and colours for one of the most internationally recognised food festivals in Europe! Enjoy street parades, cooking demonstrations, the national oyster opening championships, glamorous black tie balls, kids’ fancy dress parties, jazz bands and much, much more. Fun for all the family on the beautiful western Irish coast, amongst some of the friendliest people on earth, awesome! See picture

La Mercè (22-25th September); Barcelona, Spain:

This is the main annual festival, and also public holiday, in Barcelona, organised to celebrate the holy day of one of the city’s leading saints, Our Lady of Mercy. Thousands of people from all over the world will enjoy parades of giant papier maché figures, foot-tapping live music and typical Spanish food and drink, including the Catalonian Wine Fair. The weekend is filled with over 500 activities for all ages. Don’t miss the competition to form the highest human tower (castell) dressed in traditional costume and look out for the spectacular firework display – all taking place on the main feast day, 24th September. See picture

Whichever festival you are lucky enough to attend and wherever you decide to travel,
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